Method of assembling vehicle bodies



June 24, 1930. f c. T. 'WEYMANN 41,767,825

METHOD /OFZASJSMBLING VEHICLE' BODIES June 24, C, T WEYMANN METHOD OF ASSEM-BLING VEHICLE BODIES Filed Dec. zo, 1927 2 sheets-sheet 2A Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES ortica i CHARLES TERRES wEYivrANN` E Panis, FRANCE, AssreNoR, BY MEsNE ASSIGNMENTS,

To WEYMANN MOTOR BODIES, 0F DELAWARE INC., or WinMiNGTon, DELAWAREA ooRPoRATioN METHOD 0F ASSEMBLING VEHICLE` BDIES Application ledecembe'r 20, v1927. Serial No. 241,418.

This invention relates to a novel method of assembling bodies for automobiles and the like. e

In constructing bodies ,now generally in use in the United States, the body is usually built up piece by piece which are separately carefully formed and fitted asthe assembly of the body progresses, a form being used by the body builder to serve as a pattern in giving the body the desired contour and assure the requisite accuracy of alignment of the parts. The production of these standard bodies in any considerable number necessitates a large factory and the use of a large number of cumbersome and expensive forms and tools. The initial oost ot equipping thel factory for production is very large, the floor space required is excessive, a large force of highly skilled lbody-makers must be maintained, and the assembly lot each body is a long and expensive job.

The principal object of my invention is to rprovide a method of assembling bodies which will require minimum floor space, very little equipment, and a comparatively small force of workmen who are not necessarily highly skilled, and which will greatly reduce the time and work required for assembling and finishing the body. The parts may be made at a factory and shipped to 'the automobile manufacturers or to body assembling plants toy be there easily and quickly assembled. y

In the well-known WTeymann type ot body, which Ir invented, the skeletonirame comprises a plurality of., transverse vertical iframes, and longitudinal connecting members between the tops and bottoms of the post-s of the frames, the skeleton being covered with a fabric-like material such as leather, imitation leather or the like. The skeleton frame is preferably of a flexible nature so that it isy adapted to Weave or Hex in harmony With, rather than rigidly resist, the distortions or warping action of the chassis-frame, ldue to. uneven Aroad conditions. While I have shown and described my present rinvention asv applied to this -Weymann type of body, for the'sake of convenience, it will be understood that yother types of bodies may be "assembled by my method and the use of my apparatus.

Y In assembling vthe body, as shown and described hereiinI provide a simple frame, which might be termed a horse for convenience 'of expression., The 'front transverse vertical frame of the body is mounted in fixed vertical position on the horse, the door frames are then mounted on the posts of this trame, and the.y second transverse trame isplaced in position with a. spacing strip between its posts and the rear edges of the door frames. rlhe longitudinal connecting members are then secured in position between the two frames being properly spaced from the door by spacing devices. If the body has four doors, the rear door frames are `then mounted in position and the third transverse vertical frame from the front is set on the horse with spacing strips between the door frames and the kposts of this frame. The longitudinal connecting members between the second and third trame are then secured to the frames and finally the rear or tonneau structure is mounted in position on the horse and connected toithe rest of the body frame. t will thus be seen that I dispense with the expensive, cumbersome and space-occupying forms, now generally used, and merely employ a simple horse and spacing strips and devices in assembling the body.l The pieces making up the skeleton frame do not need to be cutwith such great exactness, proper hanging oit' the doors and alignmentv of the parts are assured, less skilled labor is required, and the body' may be assembled in the minimum space of time. Y

yThe attainment oi' the above objects, and others will become apparent rfrom the following descriptions when taken in connec-V tionV with the accompanying drawings in which* f f y Figure l is a perspective view of a body skeleton frame, illustrating the apparatus used in and method of assembling the body;

Fig. 2 is a detaily top plan view of a suitable form of clamp for securing the front transverse vertical frame unit in position on the horse;

Figs. 3 and 4 are front elevations of the front and second transverse vertical frame units, respectively, of the body shown 1n Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 verse vertical frame immediately to the rear of the rear doors;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side view illustrating a form of bracket for connecting the vertical transverse frame units to the upper longitudinal connecting members;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken through one side of the body frame and a door franie as on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is av perspective view of one of the spacers and Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken through one of the doorframes and the adjacent body posts, as on the line 9-9 of Fgl..V f.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, it will be seen that the .skeleton frame of the body generally comprises vertical transverse units (the front, intermediate, and third units being designated generally by the reference numerals G, 7 and 8, respectively), connected together by top longitudinal members 9 and corresponding bottom members l0, and a rear end or tonneau structure designated generally by the reference number 11. `I have shown in Fig. 1, a body of the brougham style but it will be under stood that the invention is applicable to any style of body. If the body to be assembled is'of the sedan style, for example, a yrear transverse vertical frame extending to the top of the body would be employed and it would be connected to the transverse Yvertical frame 8 by suitable longitudinal spacing pieces. Y

As stated above, I have shown a body of the Veymann iiexible type, though it will be understood that the use of my invention is not limited to that type of body. Each of the transverse vertical frames 6, 7 and 8, comprises a bottonrcross bar 12, vertical posts 13 and a top cross bow 14, the parts being' connected together by the well known lVeylnann joints 15. The ends of the bottom longitudinal members 10, which connect the lower ends of the transverse.vertical frames together, are connected to the end portions of the cross bars 12 `by means of the leymann joints 16,A

(Fig. 1) each comprising a flat strip of metal bolted or nailed or'oth'er'wise fastened .Y to the upper edges of the members and one of the cross bars 12. The top'longitudinal connecting members 9 may be connected at their ends to the transverse frame units 6,V 7 and 8 by'means of brackets 17 (F igs.'4 and 5), which are Vsuperimposed on the Lupper parts of the brackets 15. The frames 19 of the doors are also flexible.

The bottom piece 19a of each door is conis a perspective view of the trans-V `then fastened'to these frames. vbers 9 and 10 also being spaced from the nected to the vertical pieces 19b by `Weyl mann joints. The upper ends of the pieces 19D are connected together by two thinV i piece being accurately measured. In building a body, the transverse frames and door frames are first assembled into separate units. The tonneau section may also be assembled asa separate unit. u

In assembling the unitsk together tov form the finished skeleton frame, I dispense en*- tirely with the usual forms and jigs and employ a simple horse 2O which may com'- prise two suitable supported members V20 having vertical front posts 21, in exact right-angular relation to the members 29; The posts 13 of the front transverse frame (j are placed against'the posts 2O and the frame is held inY place by means of the clan'ifp screws 22 (Fig. 2), which may be A'of rnv desired construction. The front doohr frames are thenmounted by means of hinges` 22a (Figs. 1 and 9), to the vertical posts 13 of the fro/nt transverse frame. The hinges are so formed as to permit a narrow space to exist between the posts 13 and the front edges of the door frame. Thin spacing strips 23 are tacked lightly to the rear. edges of the door frames. The second frame 7 is next placed in uprioht position against the spacing strips 23. Spacing strips 28 (Fig. 7) are placed ony top of the door frames, the strips 28 having depending tongues 28c pro* jecting between the lpieces'19C forming .the tops of the door frames. The connecting members are laid on top of the strips 28 and then connected to` the frames 6 andV 7. The lower members'l() are then secured to the bottom bars 12 ofthe frames' and 7, the members 10 being suitably spaced from thebottom members 19 of thedoorframes by spacing tongues 30 (Figs. 7 andfS) Vse'n cured to' bars 31 resting on the members 10.V

longitudinal members 9 and 10, betweenv the second and third transverse frames, are

These memrear door' frames by the vspacing.strips 2S and ltongues 30. `After the spacing strips have served Vtheir purpose they are removed.

Y Inr order to easily center the transverse vertical frames on the horse to secure accurate alignment lof the frames,.a wire 33 is The transverse frame 8 is next 1 ieu CII

extended horizontally down the middle of the horse and over the cross bars l2. of the frames and a center line or mark 34 is provided on the cross bar l2 of each frame. The rear or tonneau section is finally pl ced on the horse and is secured to the rear trancverse frame 8 by lVeymann joints. The top horizontal frame or unit 25 of the tonneau section, shown in Fig. l, is connected to the vertical posts of the frame 8 by means of diagonal members 26, which support the rear-top boW 27.

yThe spacing strips 23 and 24 may be tacked to the edges of the door kframes either before or after the door frames are mounted in position, or the strips may be tacked to the posts of the second and third frames 7 and 8. Also, if the door frames are swung from hinges at their rear edges, the spacing strips are4 tacked to the front edges of the door frames or to the posts of the front and second frames (Sand/.

VAfter the skeleton is assembled,l the ontside edges of the vertical posts 13 and the adjacent outside edges of :the vertical members of the door framesmay be sanded by a sand-paper machine or planed by a planing machine to bring theser edges into the same plane, in case one sticks out further than the other. c f

In the event that the back of the body is square, as in the sedan 'ty e of body, the rear end portion of the ody would be changed as a back transverse vertical frame, extending to the top, Would be employed and it Would be connected to the third transverse frame 8 by means of spacing bars.

After the body frame .is assembled, as above described, the body framefand door frames are covered byv flexibley coverings, such as leather,'fimitation leather, or other fabric-like material. The spaces around the edges of the doors accommodate the endsof these coverings. f f

F rom the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have invented anl extremely ysimple and inexpensive method of assembling vehicle bodies. Only the'minimum amount of equipment and minimum vspace are required, forms are dispensed With, cheap labor may be employed and yet accuracyv of alignment and the desiredA contour are attainable. c

It Will be evident that my invention is susceptible of various modifications, such as changes inthe sequence of the steps of the method and in the construction of the horse and spacing devices, all coming Within the scope of my invention. I have explained the application ofniy invention in connection with the assembling ofl a brougham style of body of the VVeymann type, but it will be apparent that it is susceptible of use in connection with bodies of yvarious styles and types.

and at least one of the transverse vertical frames, and flexibly connecting together the transverse vertical frames, as spaced apart by said door frames and spacing strips, by said connecting members, and thereafter removing said spacing strip vvhereby to'form a skeleton capable of Weaving and flexing.

2. The method of assembling, without the use of jigs or forms, vehicle body skeletons comprising transverse vertical frame units, door frames and longitudinal connecting members between the frames, which consists in securing one of the vertical transverse frames in vertical position on a tcn'iporary support, positioning the door frames With respect to the posts of such frame, positioning another transverse vertical frame on the support and on the other side of the door frames, providing spacing means betvveen the posts of at least one of said transverse vertical frames and the door frames, and flexibly connecting together said transverse Vvertical frames, as spaced apart by said door frames and spacing means, by said connecting members, and thereafter rcinoving the spacing means whereby to form a skeleton capable of Weaving and flexing. y

The method of assembling, Without the use of jigs or forms, vehicle body skeletons comprising transverse vertical frames, door frames, and longitudinal connecting members between said transverse vertical frames, which consists in securing one of the transuverse vertical frames -in vertical position on a platform, mounting the door frames with respect to the posts of said frame, positioning a second transverse vertical frame on the platform at the other edges of the door frames, each. door frame being hinged at one edge to a post of one of the transverse vertical frames and the posts of the other transverse frame being spaced from the other edges of the door frames by spacing means, and then flexibly connecting together the transverse vertical frames, as spaced apart by said door frames and spacing means, by said connecting members and thereafter removing said spacing means whereby to form a skeleton capable of Weaving and flexing.

4. The method of assembling, Without the use of jigs or forms, vehicle body skeletons llO comprising transverse vertical frame units, longitudinal connecting members and door frameswhich consists in securing one of the transverse frames temporarily on asupport, positioning the door frames with respect thereto, positioning another transverse vertical frame with respect to the door frames with spacing strips between the door frames and one of saidframes positioning the connecting mem ers with spacers between theV door frames and said members and flexibly connecting said members to said transverse vertical frames and thereafter removing said spacing strips whereby to form a skeleton capable of weaving and flexing.

5. The method of assembling, without the use of jiffs or forms, vehicle body skeletons comprising transverse vertical frame units, longitudinal connecting members flexibly connected to the vertical frame units and door frames, which cons'sts in securing one of the end transverse vertical frame units in fixed vertical position, positioning the door frames with respect thereto, placing the next transverse vertical frame in vertical position with respect to the door frames with spacing strips between the door frames and at least one of the'transverse vertical frames, and finishing the outside surfaces of the vertical pieces of the door frames and adjacent posts of the transverse vertical frames together after the skeleton hasv been assembled and thereafter removing said spacing strips whereby to form a skeleton capable of weaving andv flexing.

6. The method of assembling, without the use of jigs or forms vehicle body skeletons of the VVeymann type, comprising transverse .vertical frames, longitudinal members for'connecting said frames, and door frames, which consists in first forming the trans- ,verse vertical frame units by connecting the pieces of each together by flexible joints, then securing one vof the transverse vertical frames in vertical position on a platform, then positioning the door frames with relan tion thereto, positioning another transverse vertical frame at the other side of the door frames, placing a spacing strip between at least one edge of each door and the adjacent post of the adjacent transverse vertical frame, and flexibly connecting together the transverse vertical frames as spaced apartby said door frames and spacing strips, by said connecting members and thereafter removing said spacing strips whereby to form a skeleton capable of weaving and flexing.

7. The method of assembling, without the use of jigs or forms, vehicle body skeletons comprising transverse vertical frames, longitudinal connecting members, door frames, and a tonneau structure, which consists in ksecuring the front vertical transverse frame in a certain vertical position on, a tempo.-

rary platform, positioning the door frames with relation thereto, then temporarilypositioning on the platform another transverse frame in relationto the door frames, spacing pieces being provided between the door l frames and the posts of at least one of the transverse vertical frames, then flexibly connecting together ythe transverse vertical frames, as spaced apart .by said door frames and spacing pieces, by said connecting members, and last securing the tonneau structure to one of the transverse vertical frames and thereafter removing said spacing pieces whereby to form a skeleton capable of Weaving and flexing.

8. The method of assembling, without the use of jigs or forms vehicle body skeletons comprising transverse vertical frames, door frames, and longitudinal connecting members, which consists in mounting the front transverse vertical frame on the platform, securing it in vertical position with a centering mark thereon in alignment with'a center line on the platform, next positioning the door frames and the next transverse vertical frame with its centering mark in alignment with the center line on the said platform with spacing means between at least one edge of eachvdoor frame and the adjacent vertical post of the adjacent transverse vertical frame, then flexibly connecting the transverse vertical frames together by said connecting members and thereafter remov-V ing said. spacing means whereby to form a skeleton capable of weaving and flexing.

9. The method of assembling, without the use of jigs or forms, vehicle body skeletons comprising transverse vertical frame units, longitudinal connecting members and door frames, which consists in securing one of the end transverse vertical frame units in a certain vertical position, positioning the door frames with respect thereto, placing the next transverse vertical frame in vertical position with respect to the door frames with spacing strips betweenthe door frames and at least one of the transverse vertical frames, and flexibly connecting together the transverse vertical frames, as spaced apart by said door frames'and spacing strips, by said connecting members and thereafter removing said spacing strips whereby to form askeleton capable of weaving and lexinfr.

l0. The method of assembling vehicle body skeletons comprising transverse vertical frames, door frames, and longitudinal connecting members between said transverse vertical frames, which consists in securing one of the transverse vertical frames invertical position on a platform, mounting the door frames with respect to the posts of said frame, positioning a second transverse vertical frame on the platform at the: other edges of the door f ames, each door frame being hinged at one edge to'apost of one 

